"Why, that is the 'coons talking to each other."

"The 'coons?" exclaimed Chunky, opening his eyes wide. "This is a funny place for 'coons up in this wilderness. What do they live on?"

"They browse for a living. I mean the four-legged kind. Animals!"

"Oh! I thought you meant—"

"Is it possible that that noise is made by 'coons?" interrupted Professor Zepplin.

Cale nodded.

"Yes; they are conversational little gentlemen. Probably are trying to decide upon the best way of getting a meal out of our camp. Boys, tomorrow morning we shall have to busy ourselves at daylight. We are going to have a lesson in permanent camp building, you know."

"Yes, sir," chorused the lads.

"Afterward, if you are agreeable, we will take a tramp over the mountain to a place where a ranger friend of mine lives."

"Rangers?" questioned Stacy. "I didn't know they had Texas Rangers in Maine."